Said and Read
Words fascinate me. Their origins, their meanings, their evolution — all of that interests me, and has for as long as I can remember. Words are the building blocks of thought, and the pathway to other minds. They give us a way to externalize the complex and ephemeral thoughts and feelings that make each of us unique in the history and future of the world. In this blog, I’ll share my exploration of (and enthusiasm for) words, language, and communication. I’ll try for a good mix in trivia, tips, and observations.
Why We Can’t Punctuate Tone
From a long-lost punctuation mark to emojis, I’ve been thinking about why tone is hard to convey in writing.
Writing by Ear
Just as in music, the rhythm and melody of the language shape meaning in prose, and a “wrong note” means I need to consider the nuances. Here are a few recent examples and my thought process around them.
Boring
Boredom is a state of mind—and a fact of life. I dug up some tidbits about it, and it’s more interesting than you might think.
Welsh – Hidden in Plain English
We hear a lot about the way Vikings and Angles and Normans and Romans shaped English, but the less-discussed Celtic influence is fascinating.
World Building: Slang, Idioms & Adages
Slang, Idioms, adages and folk sayings are a terrific way to make sure characters are grounded in their setting and slip in some world-building that doesn’t require a lot of description.
Let Me Introduce Myself
The phrases we use to give our name provide a glimpse into personality and psychology.
Four Ways a Writer Can Use AI
Amid all the debate about Artificial Intelligence, I’ve found a way to incorporate an AI Team into my fiction-writing process without impinging on my creativity.
Collecting Words
One way to expand your working vocabulary is to give new words time to become familiar before you use them.
Outlines, Maps, and Mistakes
The initial outline is like a marked map, and writing the first draft is like hiking. Sometimes it’s the detours that yield the best view.
Descriptive Powers: Similes, Metaphors, and Associations, Oh My!
Similes and metaphors are important tools for descriptive writing, and help writers add style to their prose.
